Shwait Malik's statement exposed BJP, SAD claims on farmer welfare: Jakhar

Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday said that the Akali leadership did not raise any contentions on the farmers’ issue with BJP national chief Amit Shah, saying that it had exposed the hollow claims of both the parties regarding the welfare of the farming community.

“It was clear from Shwait Malik’s statement that neither the Akalis nor the BJP leadership was concerned about the farmers’ problems and did not deem it fit even to discuss the matter during the much-hyped meeting between SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal and Amit Shah,” said Jakhar.

The brazenness with which Malik had proudly claimed that the issue of farmers’ woes did not figure in the meeting had laid bare the BJP dictatorial attitude towards its ally partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), said the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief.

The Akalis, who had been falsely claiming that they had raised issues of Punjab’s interests during the meeting with Shah, had completely lost face in the wake of Malik’s statement, said Jakhar, adding that the BJP leadership had, in fact, gone ahead to rub salt in the wounds of the Akali leaders with its latest statement.

The state Congress president said that it was evident from Malik’s statement that Badal had not expressed any concerns at the meeting. Rather, Badal senior had blindly extended his continued support to the BJP, irrespective of their antagonistic stance on issues related to the welfare of the farming community, he pointed out.

While the Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress government in Punjab had been pressurizing the Central Government for support in alleviating the woes of the debt-burdened farmers, the Akalis continued to be oblivious to their plight, said Jakhar, lamenting the pitiable state of affairs that prevailed under the BJP regime in the country.